Bondage A-Go-Go's 20th anniversary party

Bondage A-Go-Go celebrated its 20th anniversary with a party featuring dancers reflecting the fetish subculture.

By Carolyne Zinko

on March 4, 2013 3:00 PM

Photo: Drew Altizer Photography

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Long before Christian Grey made spanking in the bedroom sexy and mainstream, there was Bondage A-Go-Go, a club founded in San Francisco in 1993 that was a bridge between the city's hardcore S&M parlors and everyday dance clubs. On March 2, 2013, founding employees and fans celebrated the club's 20th anniversary and reminisced about the days when "Snakeman Dan" danced on stage in a G-string with his 11-foot-long Burmese python, in defiance of an ordinance prohibiting pythons within city limits. Industrial music and a Goth aesthetic permeated the club, which was hailed by Playboy magazine in 1994 as one of America's few to offer this sort of sexualized, underground vibe without actually showing nudity or sex on stage. (Those city ordinances were observed.) Originally located at the Trocadero, the once-a-week club continues at the Cat Club on Folsom Street on Wednesday nights. The reunion party held at 111 Minna Gallery was attended by 400 people. Many original employees have moved on to 9-to-5-jobs, but they attended in full force, proving you can grow up, but you don't have to give up. Seen here: Princess Pandora, being spanked, by Nancy Luna, a former dancer, and Chelsea Rose, singer in the band, "Bite."

Long before Christian Grey made spanking in the bedroom sexy and mainstream, there was Bondage A-Go-Go, a club founded in San Francisco in 1993 that was a bridge between the city's hardcore S&M parlors and

Latex and leather are keys to the Bondage A-Go-Go look, as Davina Darling and Randy Pedaluman know all too well.

Latex and leather are keys to the Bondage A-Go-Go look, as Davina Darling and Randy Pedaluman know all too well.

Photo: Drew Altizer Photography

Latex and leather are keys to the Bondage A-Go-Go look, as Davina... Photo-4279399.57805 - NewsTimes

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Francesca Gentille, Tim Emert

Francesca Gentille, Tim Emert

Photo: Drew Altizer Photography

Francesca Gentille, Tim Emert Photo-4279435.57805 - NewsTimes

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George Lazaneo, co-founder of Bondage A-Go-Go, with Dan Dieguez, the club's legendary snake dancer. His 11-foot-long Burmese python, Sinner, has since died, but the memories -- and video footage -- of the performances live on.

George Lazaneo, co-founder of Bondage A-Go-Go, with Dan Dieguez, the club's legendary snake dancer. His 11-foot-long Burmese python, Sinner, has since died, but the memories -- and video footage -- of the

Longtime Bondage A-Go-Go DJs Damon Boyle and Jackal are seen with Dan Dieguez, aka "Snakeman Dan," who was the club's entertainment director and danced on stage from 1993-97 in a G-string with his 11-foot-long Burmese python, Sinner, in defiance of San Francisco's ban on live pythons within city limits.

Longtime Bondage A-Go-Go DJs Damon Boyle and Jackal are seen with Dan Dieguez, aka "Snakeman Dan," who was the club's entertainment director and danced on stage from 1993-97 in a G-string with his 11-foot-long

Hawk Whitbeck, former dungeonmaster at Bondage A-Go-Go (now employed by San Francisco Muni) and his wife, Michelle "Itty Bitty" Whitbeck, reminisced with others about the good old days of whips, chains and flogging.

Hawk Whitbeck, former dungeonmaster at Bondage A-Go-Go (now employed by San Francisco Muni) and his wife, Michelle "Itty Bitty" Whitbeck, reminisced with others about the good old days of whips, chains and

Dungeon master Hawk Whitbeck (at right) describes his craft -- using whips, chains, ropes and electrical jolts on willing participants -- for an interviewer from Reality Check TV of San Francisco. Coverage of the 20th anniversary party of the founding of Bondage A-Go-Go will be shown on an upcoming episode.

George Lazaneo, co-founder of Bondage A-Go-Go, and Dan Dieguez, the club's entertainment director, who danced with a Burmese python on stage. When the city's department of Animal Control heard there was to be a live feeding on stage one night, they slapped a warning on the club's door banning the act, because Burmese pythons are illegal in San Francisco city limits. The dancing continued the next week, after the animal control officers left.

George Lazaneo, co-founder of Bondage A-Go-Go, and Dan Dieguez, the club's entertainment director, who danced with a Burmese python on stage. When the city's department of Animal Control heard there was to be a